BUILDING work on a major new service that will support people with traumatic and long-term neurological conditions has started in Middlesbrough.
‘The Gateway’ at Middlehaven is a multi-million pound project that will create over 100 new jobs in the region and is being led by Keiro (formally Whickham Villa LLP), which specialises in providing community based neuro-rehabilitation and support services in partnership with Erimus Housing, part of the Fabrick Group.
After receiving planning permission earlier this year, the deal for the land and construction of the facility have now been sealed and building has commenced with a view to the service opening in Winter 2013.
The state-of-the-art facility will be the only one of its kind in the UK that consists of a residential ‘step forward’ rehabilitation centre, a specialist community wellbeing hub and a range of transitional housing options, provided by Erimus Housing, all on the same site.
It is being developed in collaboration with an array of service partners including Middlesbrough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Middlesbrough College, to support the NHS in terms of facilitating quicker discharge from hospital and reducing long term care costs by helping people live more independent lifestyles.
Boda Gallon, chief executive at Keiro, said: “We are thrilled to see the first spade in the ground at the site as it means our vision for the Gateway is now becoming a reality for all the partners involved in the project.
“The sight of the building physically being constructed will hopefully be a major boost to the local community and will signify positive things to come for people and families that need this type of rehabilitation service right on their doorstep.
“Furthermore, the huge investment in the Gateway will also assist with the ongoing regeneration of the local area here in Middlehaven and of course lead to the creation of many jobs and spin off business opportunities and partnerships.”
At present, patients discharged from hospital-based specialist neuro and spinal units on Teesside often have to travel to Newcastle for specialist rehabilitation treatment, which is a major issue for those affected and their families.
Like its well-established sister site in Gateshead, Chase Park Neuro Centre, the Gateway will benefit those with serious brain and spinal injuries and support people in the Teesside area living with neurological and other long term conditions.
Backed by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon, the socially-focused scheme includes an array of community health, spa and therapy services, vocational support, advice services from social enterprise, charitable, statutory and education partners for use by residents, their families, the local community and service partners from the NHS and Middlesbrough Council.
The facilities will include fully accessible bedrooms, a hydro-pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium, therapy and meeting rooms and a café, a knowledge centre and a range of other community facilities. Erimus Housing will provide a selection of transitional housing options on site to enable people to move towards increased independence with long term housing and support solutions.
Chris Smith, managing director at Erimus Housing, said: “Erimus Housing is proud to be a partner in this multi-million pound investment for Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley.
“The potential for the facility to impact positively on residents’ lives is fantastic and we will work closely with Keiro, the local health authority and its partners to develop and promote the health and wellbeing advantages of this much needed scheme.”
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “I’m delighted to see real progress being made on this exciting and innovative scheme; it represents important investment in Middlehaven and further builds on the momentum of this key strategic site.
“As well as providing a state-of-the art facility, this project will also create much needed jobs and a real boost to the local economy.”
Keiro recently hosted the free Chase Park Music festival in Gateshead. Aimed at including people of all ages and abilities, breaking down barriers and cultural stereotypes associated with people with disabilities, the event attracted thousands of festivalgoers to see some of the region’s finest artists.
Keiro will be bringing similar new innovative and exciting projects to Teesside to help launch and support the services provided by the Gateway and its service partners.
A family-owned specialist healthcare and rehabilitation provider that has been in the region for a quarter of a century has marked its milestone anniversary by giving itself a brand new name.
Celebrating its 25th year in business, Whickham Villa LLP based in Gateshead will now be known as Keiro.
It has been renamed to reflect its core values, the change of services carried out by its team at its award-winning existing facility and to encompass its planned expansion and service vision for the future.
Keiro’s innovative services will include both Chase Park Neuro Centre in Whickham and The Gateway in Middlesbrough, which is a £8m project currently underway that will create over 100 jobs. Both services will support people’s journey towards independence while recovering from serious brain and spinal injuries and living well in the community with long term neurological conditions and other complex needs.
Boda Gallon, Chief Executive at Keiro, said: “We are incredibly humbled to have reached such a significant milestone as it represents 25 years of our team consistently delivering support services to people in the community.
“As the business has grown and evolved over the years, it was the ideal time to give the name a new lease of life to reflect our current dynamic transition. Keiro is the Japanese word for ‘Journey/Pathway’, which is exactly what our integrated and collaborative services are all about today. We provide people and their families with a pathway of outstanding care, support and neuro-rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of providing as independent a life as possible.
“We are extremely proud of our heritage and achievements to date and are very much looking forward to what Keiro will stand for over the next 25 years and beyond,” added Boda.
The company, which employs around 100 people, is planning various initiatives to ensure all its clients, staff, friends, service partners and stakeholders are involved in the birthday celebrations.
Chase Park Neuro Centre is recognised as one of the UK’s leading neuro-rehabilitation facilities and an expert in ‘step forward rehabilitation’ that aims to get people back into the community and living with greater independence.
Keiro shares close ties with several charities including Headway - the brain injury association, Arthritis Care, the MS Society, the North East Motor Neurone Disease Trust and the Percy Hedley Foundation to name a few.
The company recently hosted the free Chase Park Music festival in Gateshead. Aimed at including people of all ages and abilities, breaking down barriers and cultural stereotypes associated with people with disabilities, the event attracted thousands of festival goers to see some of the region’s finest up and coming artists.
I saw a piece of research this week, carried out by Loughbrough Univeristy, which was highlighted by the spinal injury charity Aspire which illustrates some of the challenges for people with spinal cord injuries. The report indicates that 20 per cent of paralysed patients are discharged from hospital into a care home because there is no housing in the community that meets their new needs.
The research also said that one in five of the 1200 people in the UK paralysed each year are moved to a care home following rehabilitation whilst they wait for their existing homes to be renovated for wheelchair use or for suitable accommodation to be found. Around 70% of spinal cord injury patients are men, and many are under 40 years old.
The effect on people being placed (even temporarily) in a care home can impact on their physical development, health and psychological wellbeing can be devastating and can even lead to attempted suicide.
Our pathway model of provision at Keiro inolves a provision of socially focussed rehabiliation, to help people to regain their independence, followed by further input from us and other organisations (charities and housing providers amongst others) who enable people to retain their independence.
The diagram on our website illustrates how our model works. One of the keys to this model is the link to transitional housing accommodation, which is suitable for people with even the most complex physical disabilities. We are in the process of establishing at our Gateshead and Middlesbrough sites.
When people access the right kind of post acute rehabiliation and support, they can go on to achieve a great deal. Scott Steele, who is a member of our healthclub had a severe spinal injury in 2007. He is now studying law and training to be a member of Team GB at the 2016 paralympic games. Tom Doughty had a spinal injury in the 1970's. He played at this year's Chase Park Music Festival this year and was an inspiration to the thousands of people who were in the audience that day.
I am glad that this research has come out and the opportunity now exists to start plugging the gaps which were higlighted in the report.
First music festival fully accessible to disabled people hits the right note
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 August 2025
When Paul Belk took a break after the first year of a music degree at Newcastle University in 2005 to go backpacking in Asia, he was a fit, athletic 20-year-old. His ambition was to be a drummer and he played in a number of bands in his hometown of South Shields in Tyneside. However, within weeks of arriving in Thailand, Belk was in hospital in a coma with a prognosis of a 2% chance of living. It transpired that his drink had been spiked in a bar and, after slipping into unconsciousness, his brain had been starved of oxygen.
To celebrate Chase Park (and the fact they were compering it) Colin and Matt got three acts off the line up in to the studio to have a chat and play some live acoustic sessions.
Listen to the Chase Park Music Festival Special Podcast From Festival Compare's Colin and Matt:
You can find out more about Generator at:
Listen to the interview below:
Pages
Authors
Alistair McDonald
Business Development
Director
Keiro Group
Boda Gallon
Chief Executive
Keiro Group